Electric valve



Oct 29, 1929. F; E. SUMMERS 1,733,519

ELECTRI C VALVE Filed July 23, 1927 "enrol mama use, 1929 UNITED STATES Harem OFFICE.

a nauoaalea July, lam to. acute.

tion of A. C. currents in a novel and eflicient manner.

The primary object is to provide means to rectify A. 0. current theme-chemically byusing an electrode of an acid nature.

Another object is to provide means topolarize or neutralize natural chemical action,- illnd utilize thermo-chemical action caused by eat. 1r

Still another object is to use electrodes that are oxidizable and non-oxidizable to the chemical action of D. C. and A. 0. current and an acid. Orin other words using A. 0.

current and an acid as chemical a ents or elements to cause electron emission 111 a cathode of an electric valve to take place.

Still another and more specific object is to use elements for the electrodes of an electric valve, whereb the laws of thermo-electricity or the Seebec eifect may be utilized, certain elements being used for electrodes whereby 5 natural chemical actions are neutralized.

My invention consists substantially in the compounding, combination, location and ro- Eortion of elements, which will be more lly ereinafter set forth in this specification and accompanying drawing, and as set forth in the appended claims.

The drawing, shows in part a cross sectional view of one preferred embodiment of my invention.

This application is in part a continuation of my co-pending' application Serial No.

131,215 filed Aug. 24, 1926.

Also this invention was one of the inventions disclosed in my a plication for Letters 0 Patent of the Unite States, Serial No.

665,847, filed Oct. 1, 1923.

Referring to the drawing the envelopeanodc-electrode 2, contains an anode-cathodeelectrode 6, a cathode electrode 3, insulating washers or disks 4, 5, 7 and 9 which are prefer-' abl to an acid. The washers or disks 7 an 9 are preferably of some resilient material such as rubber, asbestos, etc. The washers or disks 4 and 5 may becomposed of bakelite, glass and similar materials. Thesewashers or disks are sed within the envelope-' anode 2, and sai washers or disks and eleetrodes are heldin a resilient manner by the screw cap 8. The electrode terminal 10 is hollowso that it may contain the wire or spring 14 which connects electrically cathode 3 and electrode terminal 10, also so that air can circulate and cool the cathode connection.

Y One preferred modification is to use chem ical electrodes arran ed as follows an electron emitting catho e3, an anode electrode 6 and an electron emittin cathode. This is one means whereby. aci chemical action can be neutralized.

One preferred thermo-electric or chemical arrangementof electrodes is as follows: an electron emitting cathode 3, an anode-cathode heating electrode 6, and an anode electrode 2. In this modification both electrodes 3 and 6. emit electrons,"when heated by the current to be rectified or from an external source.

The envelope in certain embodiments, which is also an anode theme-electrically, is preferably composed of such elements as Al,

e, steel, Ni, B1, Pb, or their alloys.

The anode-cathode electrode 6 is preferabl composed of such elements as granulated C u, Ag, Ni, Au, Pb, steel, PhD, and W, or alloys of same combined with an acid compound and dehydrated so as to form a dry like electrode of an acid nature. p

The cathode 3 is preferably composed of elements such as Pb, Al, Ni, Si, Bi, MOS SiC, FeS PbS, and alloys of same.

It will he noted that with ,above mentioned elements as electrodes, many combinations are possible. My invention resides mainly in the use of an anode electrode of an acid nature, examples are granulated carbon, gold,

silver or copper combined with an acid com- I pound such as slgphui'ic, nitric, hydrochloric, carbonic, etc. owever as, this invention is also a chemical process to produce many only wit chemical compounds, the use of elements that acids with surprising results as an electric valve, but knowing their properties and chemical process involved, I believe it is -dangerous to use them, for electric valves, in the manner set forth in this invention.

I mi ht mention a few combinations of above e ements, a cathode of nickel, an anodecathode sulphuric acid electrode and ananode electrode 2 of Cu, or steel. Nickel is thermopositive to said acid electrode, and said acid electrode is therinwpositive to steel when heat is used as a chemical agent. W en anacid is used as a chemical agent, nickel is electro-positive to said acid electiode, and also I said anode-or electrode 2 is electro-positive to virtually neutralized or said acid electrode 6, providing one means to neutralize a common chemical action. The natural chemical afinity of nickel and steel is clarized, leaving a, relative large thermo-e ectric city or nickel to steel.

Another combination is an alloy of Ni, and Cu, or constantan as a cathode, .3, a carbon acid electrode, of an anode electrode 20f Fe or steel. The thermoelectric afinity of nickel alloy and steel is about micro-volts per degree of change ((1) near atmospheric tem erature.

yusingelementsasthecethodeiiandanode 2 having'virtually the same chemical properties with res ct to an acid as a chemical agent, natural c emical action does not hardly exist even when in closed circuit, providin a long life device, andvutilizing relative hi h thermoelectric laws of chemistry, to obtain valve action and electron emission.

In one direction or from cathode 3 to anode 2 the current heats thermo-contacts and in the opposite direction the current cools therino-contacts. The Peltier efiect is used here to cool the device, and prevent over heating. Also in one direction the current causes oxidation of a cathode electrode and in the other direction reduction. By the term oxidation in this paragraph I mean the broad term, of oxidation, that of removing electrons from an element, and the broad term of reduction that of adding electrons. to an element.

The current has a direct chemical efiect on the electrodesused, and a secondary efiect by producing heat which also causes oxidation to take place, as well as reduction. Herearsenic in the laws of thermo-electricity are involved.

The granulated elements comprising a part 4 certain elements wit 'u said'electric valve 1 may be renewed.

These electric valves may be connected in series or series-parallel, by using the necessary resistance in the circuit.

The A. 0. current may he stepped down or up in voltage so that the electric valve or valves will work most efliciently.

It is preferable in many modifications that a reverse current also goes through the valve as it will last longer. In the direction of rectification the tendency is to chemically tear down the cathode, and in the other direction the tendenc is to build up the cathode.

All the t eories or rinciples I have used here may not prove to e correct in the future, but after years of study and experimenting with electric valves of this nature it is the best explanation I can 've of electric valves at present, and l firm y believe the theo herein used is infallible, but in case it is not I do not want to he held or bound by my explanation of theory involved. l have snown means whereby those versed in chemistry, electricity, electric valves, thermoelectric laws, and clectro-chemistry may make the many embodiments made ossihle loy my discovery and invention, and it is thought that further disclosure is unnecessary.

Having described my invention what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

1. An electric valve comprising an en- Ill -velope-anode electrode of steel, containing a. cathode electrode of an allo of nickel and copper, and an anode electro e combined with an acid compound.

2. An electric valve comprising the combinfation of a thermo positive cathode electrode, 0 anode electrode of stee joined together by carbon granules and an acid. compound.

an alloy of nickel a thermonegative 3. An electric valvecom rising the combination of a thermo-positive cathode electrode of an $1110 of nickel, an anode electrode of steel 0 a .thermo-negative nature joined together by a granulated element and an acid compound, and said cathode and suede electrodes used having like chemical electro-positive properties with respect to said acid electrode.

' 4. Anelectric valve comprising the com bination of a thermo-negative anode of steel, a thermo-positive cathode electrode of an alloy of nickel joined together by granulated cargon and an acid compound of sulphuric aci 5. An electric valve comprising the combination of a cathode electrode of an alloy of nickel, an anode electrode of steel, and said electrodes joined together by carbon combined with "an acid.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

FRANK E. SU RS. 

